'Rated R Superstar' Retires

11 time World Champion. 14 time Tag Team Champion. 5 time Intercontinental champion. Former U.S Champion. 2 Time Money in the Bank winner. 2001 King of the Ring. The list goes on and on for the highly decorated 'Rated R Superstar' Edge but the now formerly known wrestler has had to retire due to long standing injuries. One of the most memorable and great superstars of the modern era, he has helped reshape the WWE through memorable matches and recreating his character to become one of the top faces in the industry.

Edge and Christian winning the tag titles at Wrestlemania 2000

The WWE official website stated: "Less than a week after his successful title defense against Alberto Del Rio at WrestleMania XXVII, World Heavyweight Champion Edge has been forced to retire from in-ring competition due to injury. The unexpected news brings to an end a storied WWE career spanning 13 years and consisting of 11 World Title reigns.

The Rated-R Superstar had been suffering numbness and uncontrollable trembling in his arms and hands. This is not the first time Edge has experienced these symptoms of nueropraxia. An MRI administered at Atlanta Midtown Diagnostic Imaging last Monday was sent to Dr. Joseph Maroon, a renowned neurosurgeon and professor of neurosurgery at The Pittsburgh School of Medicine. After careful examination of the MRI, it was determined that Edge would never be cleared to compete again, and thus, he is forced to retire.


In 2003, Edge underwent a two level spinal fusion of the discs between his C5, C6 and C7 vertebrae. After being cleared to compete, The Rated-R Superstar returned to the ring, resulting in stenosis of the spine, or a narrowing of the spinal column, above and below the fused discs. This narrowing resulted in less and less of the vital fluid needed to protect the spinal cord. Medical professionals cannot clear Edge to compete ever again in WWE since doing so could result in paralysis or even death."

During the attitude era, Edge wasn't best known for his singles competitions. But instead as a tag team competitor. Teaming with Christian and Gangrel, and eventually branching off with Christian to form one the more entertaining tag teams of the Attitude. Of course any wrestling fan in the 00's remember the Ladder and TLC matches at Wrestlemania that redefined how those matches were seen. Throughout the years, we've seen all matches including ladders evolve. Of course Edge was not solely responsible. Christian, The Hardys and The Dudleys helped change this match. Posing for the benefit of those with flash photography

Moving through the years, Edge became more of an established singles superstar with memorable feuds including one with Kurt Angle. This rivalry has always been a favourite of mine, producing classic moments such as the 'You Suck' chants which Angle has never managed to shake off, and the eventual shaving of Angles hair.

Fast forward to the 2004/2005 years, and we see the transformation into the 'Rated R Superstar' and 'Ultimate Opportunist'. A whole range of moments can be picked out. The cashing in of the Money in the Bank, the live sex celebration on Raw, the marriage to Vickie Guerrero, the feud with Matt Hardy, the multiple title reigns. Even the mini fued with the Raw General Manager, and the destruction of their laptop. The list is endless. Sadly, Edge's career isn't. But one things for sure, he has cemented himself as one of the great superstars of this generation, and arguably of all time.

Edge retains for the final time

And to cap off a great career, he went in to Wrestlemania champion, and came out champion. Then got to retire as the World Heavyweight Champion. A moment within its self I would say...